Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
THE UNIVERSITY of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, has increased tuition fees for the 2006/2007 academic year by eight per cent across all faculties.
This decision was taken during the UWI Council's annual business meeting held at the Mona campus last week.
According to information officer, Cecile Clayton, the increase is in accordance with the UWI's previous commitment to attain a cost recovery ratio of 20 per cent of total economic cost on all three campuses, while keeping annual increases on par with the inflation rate in Jamaica.
This increase, Ms. Clayton said, is below the annual inflation rate of 12.9 per cent at January 2006, and below the 10 per cent mark which the council had previously accepted as the maximum increase to be levied.
Ms. Clayton said that because of the projected increases in student enrolment for the 2006/2007 academic year at the Cave Hill campus in Barbados and the St. Augustine campus in Trinidad, the fees at those campuses will remain unchanged.
She explained that at the existing fee levels, the cost recovery ratio of 20 per cent would have been attained.
Contacted Monday, Dayton Campbell, president of the Guild of Students, said that he was not satisfied with the rate because "we always want it to be less."
He explained that the increase was initially set for 9.27 per cent but his body lobbied and had it reduced to 8.2 per cent.
Mr. Campbell however noted that the guild would assist students by getting loans where they can access at a low interest rate.
He disclosed that the Jamaica Public Service assisted some students with their tuition fees last year, and said that he would be looking to corporate Jamaica this year for more assistance.
The UWI Council also approved the recommendation to consolidate the fees for pre-clinical medicine and clinical medicine in the Faculty of Medical Sciences into one fee, with effect from August 1, 2006 (see chart).
Mr. Campbell described this decision as a good move.
New UWI fees
Faculties of the Humanities and Education, the Social Sciences, the Pure & Applied Sciences and the Department of Advanced Nursing:
$133,341
($123,156 last year).
Faculty of Law
$145,103
( $134,020 last year),
Faculty of Medical Sciences
returning pre-clinical students: $226,081
clinical students: $430,724.
The merged fee of $325,048 will be applicable to new medical students
